Education

One of the prevailing challenges in most primary schools in Malawi is low reading skills among learners. Some learners go up until the fourth grade without knowing how to read. Without basic literacy skills children are unable to learn, and this gives them little chance of succeeding in school and beyond.

23-year old Peter is a proactive youth with a passion for designing clothes. Second born in a family of five, Peter completed his secondary school education in 2015.

Upon completion of his secondary school level, Peter was not successful to enroll with one of the Country’s universities.

Tertiary education in Malawi is not free. As such, one needs to be financially prepared when they are enrolled at any university.

Like any other person whose ambition is to go further with education, Peter was frustrated as his parents could not afford to pay for his education.

By Lindiwe Bandazi

Poor access to schools and lack of learning resources are some of the biggest barriers to education for children in Malawi. In Mwalasi area of Machinga district, the most difficult challenge for many children is access to secondary school. The area has 14 primary school but no secondary school, leaving children to ‘scramble for places in schools in faraway places’.

Mother groups have been a crucial community structure working with the Keeping Girls in School (KGIS) Project in facilitating the readmission of girl dropouts and supporting girl victims by reporting and referring cases of violence against children and the rehabilitation of victimized girls. Their outstanding work and solid commitment with the communities continues to ensure that no girl is left behind with their education.

As a way of empowering girls to be effective advocates for girls’ education issues, the DfID funded, Keeping Girls in School (KGIS) project plans to implement school based girls’ advocacy weekends in all its 10 implementing districts in Malawi.

The activities are aimed at providing a platform for girls to share issues that they face and to build their capacity as champions and advocates who can effectively bring out their issues to duty bearers – actors who have a responsibility and obligation to realise the rights of the girls.